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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Stephen White & Andrew Chamberlain & Aaliyah Rugg

Five words man told police after finding body one mile from where Nicola Bulley went missing

A man and woman were walking along the River Wyre before discovering a body.

Lancashire Police cordoned off a road on Sunday after a body was recovered near where Nicola Bulley went missing. Although not formally identified, the 45-year-old's family have been informed.

The couple had been walking along the River Wyre over the weekend when they came across a body, the Mirror reports. Alerting police straight away, the pale-faced couple sat on the wall vaping as officers called for back up before a huge police presence was seen.

READ MORE: Nicola Bulley search expert Peter Faulding hits back at criticism as body found in river

An eye-witness said how he heard the man talking to the officers about how there was "definitely a body down there". The witness told the Mirror: "I noticed a man and a woman and two police officers on the embankment. I heard the man talking to police about something in the undergrowth.

"Police cars were flying down the road with the blues and twos going. A police officer pulled up a few minutes later and got his drone out. Five minutes later the helicopter arrived. Officers asked to me get out so I moved 200 yards down the road.

"I could still clearly see the man pointing at the riverbank. Then more police cars raced down with the blues and twos going. They cleared the entire road."

The body was found a mile ­downstream from where Nicola vanished on January 27 while she was walking her dog. An extensive investigation was launched, including searching the river and sea.

Nicola Bulley's partner Paul Ansell previously told of his "agony" just hours after a body was recovered from the River Wyre. Speaking to Sky News, Paul Ansell said he had "no words" following the news.

In a message sent to Sky News correspondent Inzamam Rashid, Mr Ansell said: "No words right now, just agony." Nicola's wider family also said they are "incredibly heartbroken" following the latest development in the search for the missing mum.

Specialist officers and underwater search teams were called to the River Wyre at around midday on Sunday, and a body was recovered from the water. Police said they are treating the death as "unexplained" and the body has not yet been formally identified.

Lancashire Police said in a statement: "Police have confirmed a body has been found in the River Wyre in Lancashire. Officers said today, Sunday, February 19, there has been police activity around the river near to St Michaels.

"Police were called today at 11.36am to reports of a body in the River Wyre, close to Rawcliffe Road. An underwater search team and specialist officers have subsequently attended the scene, entered the water and have sadly recovered a body.

"No formal identification has yet been carried out. We are unable to say whether this is Nicola Bulley at this time. Procedures to identify the body are on-going.

"We are currently treating the death as unexplained. Nicola’s family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."

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